diff --git a/scripts/mgnuc.in b/scripts/mgnuc.in
index 2c1e39651..1be3cf399 100644
--- a/scripts/mgnuc.in
+++ b/scripts/mgnuc.in
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ CFLAGS_FOR_REGS="@CFLAGS_FOR_REGS@"
 CFLAGS_FOR_GOTOS="@CFLAGS_FOR_GOTOS@"
 AS=as
 
+ARG_OPTS=-DCOMPACT_ARGS
+
 case "$CC" in
     *gcc*)
 	ANSI_OPTS="-ansi"
@@ -296,7 +298,7 @@ esac
 case $verbose in true)
 	echo $CC -I$C_INCL_DIR $ANSI_OPTS $CHECK_OPTS \
 		$GRADE_OPTS $GC_OPTS $PROF_OPTS $CNSTR_OPTS $SPLIT_OPTS \
-		$ARCH_OPTS "$@" $OVERRIDE_OPTS ;;
+		$ARCH_OPTS $ARG_OPTS "$@" $OVERRIDE_OPTS ;;
 esac
 case $# in
 	0) exec $CC -I$C_INCL_DIR $ANSI_OPTS $CHECK_OPTS \
@@ -304,5 +306,5 @@ case $# in
 		$ARCH_OPTS $OVERRIDE_OPTS ;;
 	*) exec $CC -I$C_INCL_DIR $ANSI_OPTS $CHECK_OPTS \
 		$GRADE_OPTS $GC_OPTS $PROF_OPTS $CNSTR_OPTS $SPLIT_OPTS \
-		$ARCH_OPTS "$@" $OVERRIDE_OPTS ;;
+		$ARCH_OPTS $ARG_OPTS "$@" $OVERRIDE_OPTS ;;
 esac